ENTREPRENEURSHIP EDUCATION ON ENTREPRENEURIAL INTENTION OF FRESH GRADUATES: A STUDY OF NYSC ORIENTATION CAMP, UMUNYA

Abstract

This study examined the influence of entrepreneurship education on entrepreneurial intention of fresh graduates of tertiary institutions in Nigeria. Four proxy independent variables – creativity, risk taking, opportunity recognition and innovation skill- and their impact on entrepreneurial intention were examined. Four research questions and hypotheses were formulated in line with the research objectives. Relevant literature was reviewed in line with the study. The survey method was used to generate data from a sample of three hundred and sixty one (361) National Youth Service Corps members who were deployed to Anambra State during the 2017/2018 service year. Data generated from the survey were analyzed using multiple regression technique in order to assess the level of performance as well as establish the significance of the relationship between the independent and dependent variables of the study. Four alternative hypotheses formulated for the study were accepted. The findings of this study indicate that entrepreneurship education influences the entrepreneurial intention in Nigerian graduates should be encouraged by exposing graduates to more practical aspects of business like risk taking, opportunity recognition and creativity.